Commissioner's Legislative Agenda: MOE, Charitable Gaming, Deer Hunting and More

The board of Carroll County Commissioners discussed ideas for legislation they would like to see Carroll's state representatives present in the upcoming legislative session. The following are summaries of some of the ideas discussed at an open meeting Tuesday night. Commissioner Robin Frazier was not present at the meeting.

Commissioner Doug Howard:

• If a county funded education at the same level as the prior year in a year when enrollments were declining, then the per student Maintenance of Effort (MOE, or state required minimum funding for education) would be frozen at that MOE amount. All present commissioners supported the idea.

Commissioner Haven Shoemaker:

• Charitable organizations should be allowed to host gaming nights as fundraisers. Shoemaker said this legislation has been introduced the past two years and he would like to see the legislators introduce it again. All present commissioners supported this idea.

Commissioner Richard Rothschild:

• Recommends legislation requiring the release of a credit report from all public officials in Maryland (some personal information can be redacted for security purposes) "so the public can get a sense of whether or not elected officials have been paying their bills." Rothschild said, "those who have not been paying their bills are more susceptible to compromise." Commissioner Shoemaker responded saying "this has no prayer of passing" and Howard added "I think they [ethics ordinances] are asking for too much information as it is, I'm not sure how appropriately they are going to use that information." Three voted against this idea, Rothschild voted in favor. 
• Legislation prohibiting the attachment of any government mandated volume metric water metering device on privately owned well or septic systems for the purpose of calculating or leveraging any usage based fees or taxes on private well or septic systems. "In other words," Rothschild said, "they shouldn't be allowed to charge us for using our own well or septic systems." All present commissioners supported this idea. 
• Legislation prohibiting the attachment of any government mandated GPS or mileage tracking scheme on private motor vehicles for the purpose of calculating or levying any mileage-based tax or fee-based tax on miles driven. All present commissioners supported this idea.
• Legislation that would extend general firearms deer hunting season and bag limits, adding at least two additional Saturdays and Sundays. According to Rothschild, "collisions between vehicles and deer throughout the state are at a level that I would consider crisis level ... these things have become like scud missiles that are killing people."  All present commissioners supported this idea.

Do you think there are other laws the county should be pursuing? Tell us in comments.